In light of the latest move in Leafs Nation (Versteeg for picks), the proverbial feces has hit the high powered fan.  How could Brian Burke possible trade Kris Versteeg who is on pace for a whopping 50 points on a terrible team?  Now don’t get me wrong, Versteeg has shown his flashes of being a very important piece to a team.  The problem is he’s also shown flashes that makes Leafs Nation’s collective forehead hurt from the facepalm.  Such is life in the Big Smoke.  More than likely you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t; even if the majority loved the move when you made it (see Phil Kessel.)

When Versteeg showed up in Toronto we were all pretty excited.  He was fresh off a Cup victory and we didn’t have to give up much to get him.  Versteeg was an important part of Chicago’s success; a vital third line player who could play in all situations.  What we learned quickly here is that is exactly what he is, a third line player.  Certainly he is capable of scoring 20 goals, he’s done it already.  But 20 goals does not mean he’s a great player either.  He was tried on the top line and the second line, but we saw very quickly that he was not what we though he could be.

Part of Versteeg’s value was his ability to be a great top six glue guy.  A player who can mix it up, fight for space and make space for linemates.  But that isn’t Versteeg’s game at all and he has proven very effective on the third line in a role that suits his game.  Not to mention a role he thrived in on a Cup winner.  He isn’t shy to skate both ways and can handle penalty killing duties, but let’s be honest his greatest assets stop there. And in most hockey markets we’d see a lot of people happy to get this type of value for a third liner; even if he’s 24 years old.  But here in Toronto it is a different story.  We want the moon… and then some.

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